The Awareness Center closed. We operated from April 30, 1999 - April 30, 2014. This site is being provided for educational & historical purposes.
We were the international Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault (JCASA); and were dedicated to ending sexual violence in Jewish communities globally. We did our best to operate as the make a wish foundation for Jewish survivors of sex crimes. In the past we offered a clearinghouse of information, resources, support and advocacy.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

"It Takes a Village to Raise a Sexual Predator" — Vicki Polin

Jewish Survivors of Sexual Violence Speak Out [United States]

April 24, 2007

Vicki Polin has said it a million times: "It takes a village to raise a sexual predator"

I think the rabbonim of New York, Baltimore, Chicago and Los Angeles
need to be aware that the problem we have with sexual predators is on
them. The warnings signs were there, yet they choose to lead our
communities to ignore them. It's been much easier for them to blame
survivors of sex crimes.

It's vitally important that all survivors and parents of survivors to
make police reports on those who offend. It's not up to our rabbis to
conduct investigations. It is also important that survivors of sex
crimes file civil suits against those who offend and also those who
enable them to continue to rape our men, women and children.

It is time for all Jewish survivors of sexual abuse, sexual assault,
clergy sexual abuse, sexual manipulation to unite. There is power in
numbers. Don't allow those who ignored our cries to divide and conquer
us anymore. Start self-help groups in your community and start
networking with others. We do not need to be alone anymore. Use the law
of the land and not the politics of our religious leaders.

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Survivors ARE Heroes!

The Awareness Center believes ALL survivors of sex crimes should be given yellow ribbons to wear proudly.

Survivors of sexual violence (as adults and/or as a child) are just as deserving of a yellow ribbon as the men and women of our armed forces, who have been held captive as hostages or prisoners of war.

Survivors of sexual violence have been forced to learn how to survive, being held captive not by foreigners, but mostly by their own family members, teachers, camp counselors, coaches babysitters, rabbis, cantors or other trusted authority figures.

For these reasons ALL survivors of sexual violence should be seen as heroes!